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Historical Center takes first step toward reality

New Ulm is one step closer to getting a historical center at Johnson Park. The Park and Rec approved a design concept for a proposed historical center Monday. The design requires city council approval before the New Ulm Baseball Association (NUBA) can begin fundraising for the project, but this is an exciting first step. New Ulm has long been known for its love of baseball as well as its dedication to preserving history. It makes perfect sense the community would combine the two concepts.

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Ax throwing and smash labs coming

Last week, New Ulm approved a permit to allow an ax-throwing and smash lab businesses to operate on 3rd North Streets in the Tech Trends building. Chad Aukes, owner of Tech Trends, had the idea to start this unique types of business. He admitted it was an out of the box idea, but the public response has extremely supportive of this. The Journal article about the project has dozens of comments from the public who cannot wait to throw axes and smash object. Aukes has clearly tapped into a need in this community.

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MN Bishops take stand on immigration

Last Friday, Catholic Bishops from across Minnesota signed a letter urging human dignity when conducting immigration enforcement. Minnesota Bishops opposed any campaign of indiscriminate immigration enforcement that threatens to unnecessarily or unjustly separate families and repeated pleas for Congress for comprehensive immigration reform. The Bishops went further, calling out both political parties for using undocumented migrants as political pawns on a chess board. One day migrants are being exploited for cheap labor, the next day demonized as fear mongers when it politically advantageous. It is an accurate description of the U.S. immigration policy for the last several decades. The calls from Catholic bishops to conduct immigration enforcement with human dignity in mind is the correct response. It would be easy for the church to play it safe and ignore immigration problems, but taking a stand like this will hopefully lead others to follow.